Vehicular air conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle in which an engine room ( 14 ) and a passenger compartment ( 15 ) are separated by a dash panel ( 1 ), the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus having a conditioned air blowout opening ( 4 ) and a passenger compartment internal air suction opening ( 5 ) that are opened at a side of the passenger compartment ( 15 ), the passenger compartment internal air suction opening ( 5 ) being provided in an upper portion of an instrument panel ( 2 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improvement in a vehicularair-conditioning apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As a technology related to a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus, thereis a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.HEI 10-250342. This technology will be described with reference to FIG.16. FIG. 16 is an estimated diagram schematically illustrating avehicular air-conditioning apparatus disclosed in the Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. HEI 10-250342 and a section of a vehicle inwhich the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed. The drawingis termed “estimated diagram” because the drawing shows an instrumentpanel (dashboard) although Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI10-250342 provides a description of an instrument panel but does notprovide a drawing thereof.

As shown in FIG. 16, an engine room 134 and a passenger compartment 135are separated by a dash panel 121. A floor 132 extends below the dashpanel 121. A roof 131 is mounted via a front window 130 above the dashpanel 121. An instrument panel 122 is disposed from the dash panel 121toward a passenger compartment-side. The instrument panel 122 isdisposed so that a predetermined space is provided between theinstrument panel 122 and an occupant (not shown).

A lower portion of the instrument panel 122 has an opening, therebyforming a passenger compartment internal air suction opening 125. Aconditioned air blowout opening 124 is formed in an upper portion of theinstrument panel 122.

A blower unit 123 and an airconditioner unit (not shown) are disposedinside the instrument panel 122. The blower unit 123 has a blowerinternal air suction opening 126 at a site in the unit that is locatedupward and rearward with respect to the vehicle, and has a blowerexternal air suction opening 129 at a site in the unit located upwardand forward with respect to the vehicle.

The operation of the above-described technology will be described.Conditioned air via the blower unit 123 and the airconditioner unit (notshown) is blown out of the conditioned air blowout opening 124 into thepassenger compartment 135, and flows via below the front window shield130 and below the roof 131, thereby cooling an upper body of an occupant(not shown). After that, conditioned-air reverses in a rearward portionof the passenger compartment 135, and flows along and above the floor132 forward with respect to the vehicle, thereby cooling a lower body ofthe occupant. Conditioned air is drawn into the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 125 formed in a lower portion of theinstrument panel 122. Due to the above-described sequential flow ofconditioned air, the occupant is cooled.

However, in the above-described technology, conditioned air flows intoareas where sensual effect is less (in particular, around the occupant'sfeet), the vicinity of the floor 132, and the like. Cooling such areasgives rise to a problem of consuming an unnecessary power.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicular air-conditioningapparatus that effectively cools an occupant at reduced powerconsumption.

A first aspect of the invention is a vehicular air-conditioningapparatus that is applied to a vehicle in which an engine room and apassenger compartment are separated by a dash panel and that has aconditioned air blowout opening and a passenger compartment internal airsuction opening that are opened at a side of the passenger compartment,characterized in that the passenger compartment internal air suctionopening is disposed so that conditioned air is circulated mainly aroundan occupant's upper body.

A second aspect of the invention is a vehicular air-conditioningapparatus that is applied to a vehicle in which an engine room and apassenger compartment are separated by a dash panel and that has aconditioned air blowout opening and a passenger compartment internal airsuction opening that are opened at a side of the passenger compartment,characterized in that the passenger compartment internal air suctionopening is provided in an upper portion of an instrument panel.

In the above-described first and second aspects, the conditioned airblowout opening may be provided below the passenger compartment internalair suction opening.

In the above-described aspects, a cover may be mounted on a lower faceof an instrument panel.

In the above-described aspects, the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening and a blower internal air suction opening may beconnected and an intake passage may be shielded by a shield member so asto prevent internal air present in an instrument panel from entering theintake passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatusin accordance with a first embodiment of the invention and a section ofa vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatusin accordance with a second embodiment of the invention and a section ofa vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an instrument panel having apassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance with athird embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV—IV in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V—V in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for illustrating advantages of the instrumentpanel having the passenger compartment internal air suction opening inaccordance with the third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of an instrument panel having apassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance with afourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view in a view C indicated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of an instrument panel having apassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance with afifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of an instrument panel having apassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance with asixth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of an instrument panel having apassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance with aseventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the instrument panel having thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance withthe seventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of an instrument panel having apassenger compartment internal air suction opening in accordance with aneighth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatusin accordance with a ninth embodiment of the invention and a section ofa vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatusin accordance with a tenth embodiment of the invention and a section ofa vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed.

FIG. 16 is an estimated diagram schematically illustrating a vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to the related art and a section ofa vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematicdiagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with afirst embodiment of the invention and a section of a vehicle in whichthe vehicular air-conditioning apparatus is disposed. As shown in FIG.1, an engine room 14 and a passenger compartment 15 are separated by adash panel 1. A floor 12 extends below the dash panel 1. A roof 11 isdisposed above the dash panel 1 via a front window 10. An instrumentpanel 2 is disposed from the dash panel 1 toward a passengercompartment-side. The instrument panel 2 is disposed so that apredetermined space is provided between the instrument panel 2 and anoccupant (not shown).

A lower portion of the instrument panel 2 is covered with a cover 13,whereby flow of conditioned air from below the instrument panel 2 to theinside thereof is blocked. A conditioned air blowout opening 4 is formedin an upper portion of the instrument panel 2. A passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 is formed in an upper portion of theinstrument panel 2 that is located above the conditioned air blowoutopening 4.

A blower unit 3 and an airconditioner unit (not shown) are disposedinside the instrument panel 2. The blower unit 3 has a blower internalair suction opening 6 at a site in the unit that is located upward andrearward with respect to the vehicle, and has a blower external airsuction opening 9 at a site in the unit located upward and forward withrespect to the vehicle.

The operation of the first embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. Conditioned air via the blower unit 3 and the airconditionerunit (not shown) is blown out of the conditioned air blowout opening 4into the passenger compartment 15, and flows via below the front windowshield 10 and below the roof 11, thereby cooling an upper body of anoccupant (not shown). After that, conditioned-air reverses in a rearwardportion of the passenger compartment 15, and flows through asubstantially middle portion of a height of the vehicle toward a forwardportion of the vehicle, thereby cooling the an upper body of theoccupant. Conditioned air is drawn into the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 formed in the upper portion of theinstrument panel 2, and is then drawn into the blower 3. Due to theabove-described sequential flow of conditioned air indicated in thedrawing, cooling is performed mainly around the upper body of theoccupant. A lower body of the occupant is weakly cooled by turbulence ofconditioned air.

In the above-described vehicular air-conditioning apparatus inaccordance with the first embodiment of the invention, the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 is disposed so as tocirculate conditioned air around an upper body of an occupant, so thatthe occupant's upper body can be effectively cooled. A lower body, thatis, a body portion where sensual effect is relatively small, and, inparticular, the occupant's feet, are weakly cooled, so that the coolingheat load can be reduced without increases in mass or cost.

Since the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 isprovided in an upper portion of the instrument panel 2, an occupant'supper body can be effectively cooled. Since a lower body, that is, abody portion where sensual effect is relatively small, and, inparticular, the occupant's feet, are weakly cooled, the cooling heatload can be reduced without increases in mass or cost.

Furthermore, since the conditioned air blowout opening 4 is providedbelow the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5,conditioned air is blocked from flowing around an occupant's lower body,and flow of conditioned air can be concentrated around an occupant'supper body. Therefore, the cooling heat load caused by the cooling ofthe feet of an occupant or the floor 12 can be reduced.

Still further, since the cover 13 is mounted to a lower face of theinstrument panel 2, suction of condition air via the lower face of theinstrument panel 2 can be blocked. Therefore, the flow of conditionedair around the occupant's lower body can be reduced, and enhanced airstreams around the occupant's upper body can be achieved, so that thecooling heat load can be reduced.

Further, since conditioned air is drawn via the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 formed in an upper face of the instrumentpanel 2, appliances (meters, audio, etc.) disposed inside the instrumentpanel 2 can be cooled, so that their performances are maintained andtheir lasting characteristics are improved.

By expanding the opening area of the conditioned air blowout opening 4,the blowout speed can be reduced so as to achieve a flow of conditionedair having reduced turbulence. Therefore, conditioned air can beconcentrated around an occupant's upper body, so that the cooling heatload can be reduced.

A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with a secondembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatusin accordance with the second embodiment of the invention and a sectionof a vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus isdisposed. Constructions equivalent to those shown in FIG. 1 arerepresented by the same reference characters, and the descriptionthereof will be omitted since the description above is assumed to besufficient for those constructions. Constructions different from thosein FIG. 1 will mainly be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, a suction passage 8 connecting between a passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 and a blower internal airsuction opening 6 of a blower unit 3 is shield from other spaces insidean instrument panel 2 by a shield member 7 such as a duct or the like.That is, the shield member 7 blocks air from flowing from inside theinstrument panel 2 into the blower internal air suction opening 6.Therefore, high-temperature air in the instrument panel 2 is preventedfrom being drawn into the blower internal air suction opening 6.

In the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the suctionpassage 8 connecting between the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening 5 and the blower internal air suction opening 6 isshielded by the shield member 7 although a lower face of the instrumentpanel 2 is open. Therefore, suction of conditioned air into the blowerinternal air suction opening 6 from the lower face of the instrumentpanel 2 is impossible, so that the cooling heat load can be reduceddespite a simple construction that does not employ a cover.

Improvement inventions of a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with theinvention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 13.

An instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with athird embodiment of the invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 6. FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an instrumentpanel having a passenger compartment internal air suction opening inaccordance with the third embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, defroster nozzle blowout openings 16 are providedforward of an instrument panel 2 and rearward of a front window shield10 with respect to the vehicle. An increased-size meter cluster 17 isdisposed on the instrument panel 2 located forward of an occupant.Meters 18 are disposed in the meter cluster 17. Conditioned air blowoutopenings 4 are provided below the meter cluster 17. An airbag 19 isembedded at a side of the meter cluster 17.

A passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is provided in aface of the meter cluster 17 that is located forward with respect to thevehicle. The passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 isopen toward the front window shield 10. The opening area of thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is set so that alarge area is provided at a site where the meters 18 are disposed, andso that a small area is provided at a site where the meters 18 are notdisposed. The passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5serves as a suction opening for conditioned air that returns to thevehicular air-conditioning apparatus after circulating in the passengercompartment and cooling an occupant's upper body.

Further description will be made with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4is a sectional view taken on line IV—IV in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is asectional view taken on line V—V in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is formed between aforward end portion of the meter cluster 17 and the instrument panel 2,and has a large opening area. Since the passenger compartment internalair suction opening 5 has a construction that has a large opening area,the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is able tostrongly draw flows of conditioned air.

Defroster nozzle blowout openings 16 are disposed forward of thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 with respect to thevehicle and rearward of the front window shield 10 with respect to thevehicle. The defroster nozzle blowout openings 16 are connected to adefroster duct 20 extending in the instrument panel 2.

The passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 shown in FIG. 5is also formed between a forward end portion of the meter cluster 17 andthe instrument panel 2. The meter cluster 17 is connected to a lowerportion 21 of the instrument panel. The passenger compartment internalair suction opening 5 shown in FIG. 5 has a construction that has anopening area smaller than the opening area of the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 shown in FIG. 4. Since the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 has a construction having asmall opening area, both arrangement of the meters 18 and suction ofconditioned air can be favorably achieved.

Advantages of the instrument panel provided with the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 in accordance with the thirdembodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 6.FIG. 6 is a sectional view for illustrating advantages of the instrumentpanel provided with the passenger compartment internal air suctionopening in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention. Asshown in FIG. 6, the passenger compartment internal air suction opening5 is not visible from an occupant (driver) if the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 is within the range of sight of theoccupant, so that design characteristics are not degraded. Furthermore,the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is not visibleas a reflection in the front window shield 10, so that the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 hardly becomes a hindrance tothe driving. Still further, sounds transmitted from the engine roompropagate while being reflected within the meter cluster 17 or betweenthe front window shield 10 and the instrument panel 2, and do notdirectly propagate into the passenger compartment 15, so that noise canbe curbed to a low level.

An instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a partial sectionalview of an instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal airsuction opening in accordance with the fourth embodiment of theinvention. FIG. 8 is a plan view in a view C indicated in FIG. 7. Asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening 5 is formed by many suction holes 22 formed in an upper face ofthe instrument panel 2. As shown in FIG. 7, a defroster nozzle blowoutopening 16 is disposed forward of the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening 5 with respect to the vehicle and rearward of a frontwindow shield 10 with respect to the vehicle.

According to the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 inaccordance with the fourth embodiment of the invention, since thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is formed by thesuction holes 22, there is no unnaturalness perceived if the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 is seen by an occupant(driver). Thus, design characteristics are not degraded. Furthermore, ifthe passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is seen as areflection in the front window shield 10, no unpleasant feeling iscaused, so that the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5hardly becomes a hindrance to the driving. Still further, since thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is not opened insuch a direction that air blown out of the defroster nozzle blowoutopening 16 is directly sucked, the performance of the defroster is notdegraded.

An instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a partial sectional viewof an instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal airsuction opening in accordance with the fifth embodiment of theinvention. As can be seen from the FIG. 9, a passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 is formed so as to open in an inner faceof a meter cluster 17 that is an upper face thereof in a verticaldirection with respect to the vehicle. A defroster nozzle blowoutopening 16 is disposed forward of the meter cluster 17 with respect tothe vehicle and rearward of a front window shield 10 with respect to thevehicle.

According to the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 inaccordance with the fifth embodiment of the invention, since thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is formed so as toopen an inner face of the meter cluster 17 that is an upper face thereofin the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle, the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 is not visible from anoccupant (driver), so that design characteristics are not degraded.Furthermore, the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 isnot visible as a reflection in the front window shield 10, and thereforedoes not become a hindrance to the driving. Still further, the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 is not along the route offlow of air blown out of the defroster nozzle blowout opening 16, sothat the performance of the defroster is not degraded.

An instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a partial perspectiveview of an instrument panel having passenger compartment internal airsuction openings in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the invention.As shown in FIG. 10, the passenger compartment internal air suctionopenings 5 are formed so as to open in inner faces of a meter cluster 17that are right and left-side faces thereof in right-and-left directions,i.e. the width direction of the vehicle. A defroster nozzle blowoutopening 16 is disposed forward of the meter cluster 17 with respect tothe vehicle and rearward of a front window shield 10 with respect to thevehicle.

According to the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 inaccordance with the sixth embodiment of the invention, since thepassenger compartment internal air suction openings 5 are formed so asto open in inner faces of the meter cluster 17 that are right andleft-side faces of the meter cluster 17 in the right-and-left directionsof the vehicle, the passenger compartment internal air suction openings5 are not visible as reflections in the front window shield 10, andtherefore do not become a hindrance to the driving. Furthermore, thepassenger compartment internal air suction openings 5 are not along theroute of flow of air blown out of the defroster nozzle blowout opening16, so that the performance of the defroster is not degraded.

An instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a partialsectional view of an instrument panel having a passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening in accordance with the seventh embodimentof the invention. FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of theinstrument panel provided with the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening in accordance with the seventh embodiment of theinvention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the passenger compartment internal air suctionopening 5 is formed within a predetermined area in the instrument panel2 that is caused to be a blind spot by a rearview mirror 23, that is, anarea whose view from an eye point E of an occupant via reflection on afront window shield 10 is blocked by the rearview mirror 23. FIG. 12illustrates a state where the passenger compartment internal air suctionopening 5 is formed within a predetermined area in the instrument panel2 that is caused to be the blind spot by the rearview mirror 23.

According to the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 inaccordance with the seventh embodiment of the invention, since thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is formed within apredetermined area in the instrument panel 2 that is caused to be ablind spot by the rearview mirror 23, the passenger compartment internalair suction opening 5 is not visible as a reflection in the front windowshield 10, and therefore does not become a hindrance to the driving.

An instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a partial sectional viewof an instrument panel having a passenger compartment internal airsuction opening 5 in accordance with the eighth embodiment of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 13, an upper face of the instrument panel 2has an upper instrument panel stage 2 a that is formed forward in afore-to-aft direction of the vehicle, a vertical wall 2 b extendingcontinuously from the upper instrument panel stage 2 a and extendingdownward in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and a lower instrumentpanel stage 2 c extending continuously from the vertical wall 2 b andextending rearward in the fore-to-aft direction of the vehicle. Apassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is formed byopening a portion of the vertical wall 2 b and disposing fins 24therein. A defroster nozzle blowout opening 16 is disposed forward ofthe instrument panel 2 with respect to the vehicle and rearward of afront window shield 10 with respect to the vehicle.

According to the passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 inaccordance with the eighth embodiment of the invention, since thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is opened in thevertical wall 2 b extending downward in the vertical direction of thevehicle from the upper instrument panel stage 2 a, the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 is not visible as areflection in the front window shield 10, and does not become ahindrance to the driving. Furthermore, since the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening 5 is not along the route of flow of airblown out of the defroster nozzle blowout opening 16, the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 does not degrade theperformance of the defroster.

A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with a ninthembodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 14.FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatusin accordance with the ninth embodiment of the invention and a sectionof a vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus isdisposed. The vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance withthe ninth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 14 uses a defrosternozzle blowout opening 16 as a passenger compartment internal airsuction opening 5, thereby preventing deteriorations in appearance,window reflection, etc. caused by providing a dedicated passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5. The construction of thevehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with the ninthembodiment of the invention will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 14, a defroster nozzle blowout opening 16 serving alsoas a passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 is connectedto a defroster nozzle 25, and an internal air duct 33. The internal airduct 33 is a duct disposed between an internal air suction opening of ablower unit 3 and a suction opening of the defroster nozzle 25. Asubsidiary internal air damper 26 is disposed within the internal airduct 33. The subsidiary internal air damper 26 is a switching damperthat selects whether to suck internal air from the defroster nozzleblowout opening 16 or to suck internal air present in the instrumentpanel 2. The subsidiary internal air damper 26 is driven by a motor, alink, and the like that are not shown in the drawings.

An internal/external air switching damper 27 is mounted upstream of theblower unit 3. The internal/external air switching damper 27 is aswitching damper that selects whether to suck external air introducedvia a cowl 28 or to suck internal air coming via the subsidiary internalair damper 26. Furthermore, a cooler unit 29 and a heater unit 30 aredisposed downstream of the blower unit 3. Provided further downstream isa face damper 31. The face damper 31 is a switching damper that selectswhether to blow conditioned air to a conditioned air blowout opening 4or to blow conditioned air to a defroster damper 32. A portiondownstream of the defroster damper 32 is constructed so as to connect tothe defroster nozzle 25.

The operation of the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordancewith the ninth embodiment of the invention will be described. In FIG.14, solid lines and solid-line arrows with regard to the various dampersindicate operations during a face-internal air mode. Dotted lines anddotted-line arrows with regard to the various dampers indicateoperations during an internal air mode other than the face mode, forexample, a defroster mode in FIG. 14.

First, the operation during a face blowout opening-and-internal airmode. Internal air (air inside the passenger compartment) is sucked fromthe passenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 (defrosternozzle blowout opening 16), and reaches the defroster nozzle 25.Internal air that has passed through the defroster nozzle 25 reaches thesubsidiary internal air damper 26. Since the subsidiary internal airdamper 26 has been switched to a position (c) indicated in the drawing,internal air passes through the subsidiary internal air damper 26, andreaches the internal air duct 33. Internal air that has passed throughthe internal air duct 33 reaches the internal/external air switchingdamper 27. Since the internal/external air switching damper 27 has beenswitched to a position (a) indicated in the drawing, internal air passesthrough the internal/external air switching damper 27, and reaches theface damper 31 via the blower unit 3, the cooler unit 29, and the heaterunit 30. Since the face damper 31 has been opened, internal air passesthrough the face damper 31, and reaches the conditioned air blowoutopening 4. Then, internal air is blow out of the conditioned air blowoutopening 4 into the passenger compartment.

The operation during a mode of internal air and a blowout opening otherthan the face, for example, the defroster, will be described. Since thesubsidiary internal air damper 26 has been switched to a position (d)indicated in the drawing, internal air (air in the passengercompartment) present in the instrument panel 2 passes through thesubsidiary internal air damper 26, and reaches the internal air duct 33as indicated by dotted-line arrows. Internal air that has passed throughthe internal air duct 33 reaches the internal/external air switchingdamper 27. Since the internal/external air switching damper 27 has beenswitched to a position (a) indicated in the drawing, internal air passesthrough the internal/external air switching damper 27, and reaches theface damper 31 via the blower unit 3, the cooler unit 29, and the heaterunit 30. Since the face damper 31 has been closed, internal air cannotpass through the face damper 31, and reaches the defroster damper 32.Since the defroster damper 32 has been opened, internal air passesthrough the defroster damper 32, and flows via the defroster nozzle 25,and then is blown out of the defroster nozzle blowout opening 16 intothe passenger compartment.

Next, the operation during the face blowout opening-and-external airmode will be described. External air introduced via the cowl 28 reachesthe internal/external air switching damper 27. Since theinternal/external air switching damper 27 has been switched to aposition (b) indicated in the drawing, external air passes through theinternal/external air switching damper 27, and reaches the face damper31 via the blower unit 3, the cooler unit 29, and the heater unit 30.Since the face damper 31 has been opened, external air passes throughthe face damper 31, and reaches the conditioned air blowout opening 4,and is blown out of the conditioned air blowout opening 4 into thepassenger compartment. The subsidiary internal air damper 26 may beswitched to either one of the positions indicated by (c) and (d) in thedrawing.

Next, the operation during a mode of external air and a blowout openingother than the face, for example, the defroster, will be described.External air introduced via the cowl 28 reaches the internal/externalair switching damper 27. Since the internal/external air switchingdamper 27 has been switched to the position (b) indicated in thedrawing, external air passes through the internal/external air switchingdamper 27, and reaches the face damper 31 via the blower unit 3, thecooler unit 29, and the heater unit 30. Since the face damper 31 hasbeen closed, external air cannot pass through the face damper 31, andreaches the defroster damper 32. Since the defroster damper 32 has beenopened, external air passes through the defroster damper 32, and reachesthe defroster nozzle 25. Since at this moment the subsidiary internalair damper 26 has been switched to the position (d) indicated in thedrawing, external air cannot pass through the subsidiary internal airdamper 26, and is blown out of the defroster nozzle blowout opening 16into the passenger compartment.

As described above, the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus inaccordance with the ninth embodiment of the invention uses theconventionally employed defroster nozzle blowout opening 16 as apassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5, so that there isno need to set a dedicated passenger compartment internal air suctionopening. Therefore, the apparatus is able to prevent deteriorations inappearance, window reflection, and the like.

A tenth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference toFIG. 15. FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a vehicular air-conditioningapparatus in accordance with the tenth embodiment of the invention and asection of a vehicle in which the vehicular air-conditioning apparatusis disposed. As shown in FIG. 15, an engine room 14 and a passengercompartment 15 are separated by a dash panel 1. A floor 12 extends belowthe dash panel 1. A roof that is not shown in the drawing is disposedabove the dash panel 1 via a front window 10. An instrument panel 2 isdisposed from the dash panel 1 toward a passenger compartment 15-side. Apassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 and a defrosternozzle blowout opening 16 are formed in an upper portion of theinstrument panel 2. The instrument panel 2 is disposed so that apredetermined space is provided between the instrument panel 2 and anoccupant (not shown).

A lower portion of the instrument panel 2 is covered with a cover 13.The cover 13 has an opening 36 between a cover end portion 13 a and acover end portion 13 b.

A blower unit 3 and an air-conditioner unit (not shown) are disposedwithin the instrument panel 2. The blower unit 3 is disposed so as tocontact the opening 36 of the cover 13, and a subsidiary internalsuction opening 37 is set so as to connect to the inside of thepassenger compartment 15 via the opening 36.

The blower unit 3 has a main internal air suction opening 34 in aportion of the blower unit 3 that is upward and rearward with respect tothe vehicle. The blower external air suction opening 9 is connected tothe engine room 14 via an external air introducing duct 35. The blowerunit 3 has, at a lower end thereof, a first blower 38 and a secondblower 39, and functions as an internal/external two-layerairconditioner.

The operation of the tenth embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. During cooling, a first conditioned air (cooling air) comingvia the blower unit 3 and the air conditioner unit (not shown) is blownout of a conditioned air blowout opening that is not shown into thepassenger compartment 15, so as to cool an upper body of an occupant(not shown). After that, the first conditioned air is sucked into thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening 5 formed in an upperportion of the instrument panel 2, and then is sucked into the blowerunit 3. Due to the aforementioned sequential flow of the firstconditioned air as indicated in the drawing, cooling is performed mainlyaround an occupant's upper body. During cooling, the subsidiary internalsuction opening 37 is closed.

During heating, the subsidiary internal suction opening 37 is opened, sothat a second conditioned air, that is, warm internal air around thefeet of an occupant, is taken into the subsidiary internal suctionopening 37.

According to the above-described vehicular air-conditioning apparatus inaccordance with the tenth embodiment of the invention, the passengercompartment internal air suction opening 5 is disposed so that duringcooling, the first conditioned air (cooling air) is circulated around anoccupant's upper body. Therefore, the occupant's upper body can beeffectively cooled. During heating, the second conditioned air (warminternal air around feet) is taken into the subsidiary internal suctionopening 37, so that the heat load can be reduced. As a result, thevehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with the tenthembodiment of the invention allows quick cooling and heating and areduction in the heat load while achieving a reduction in theventilation loss and an anti-frost characteristic, which are essentialfunctions of an internal/external two-layer airconditioner.

In the vehicular air-conditioning apparatus in accordance with the tenthembodiment of the invention, the cover 13 is mounted on a lower face ofthe instrument panel 2, and during cooling the subsidiary internalsuction opening 37 is closed. Therefore, the apparatus is able toprevent suction of conditioned air via the lower face of the instrumentpanel 2, and is able to reduce the flow of the first conditioned airaround a lower body of an occupant, and is able to achieve more airstreams around an upper body of the occupant, and is able to reduce thecooling heat load.

It is noted that the particular arrangements of the internal air suctionopening as described in the third to eighth embodiment with reference toFIGS. 3 to 13 can also be applied to the tenth embodiment. Further, theinternal air suction openings according to FIGS. 3 to 13 can be combinedwith a cover 13 as shown in FIG. 1 as well as with a shield shown inFIG. 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus that isapplied to a vehicle in which an engine room and a passenger compartmentare separated by a dash panel, comprising: a conditioned air blowoutopening that is opened at a side of the passenger compartment; and apassenger compartment internal air suction opening that is opened at aside of the passenger compartment, wherein the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening is disposed so that conditioned air ismainly circulated around an occupant's upper body, and wherein thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening formed of a partiallyopen side wall of a meter cluster.
 2. A vehicular air-conditioningapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening opens towards a front window shield.
 3. Avehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theside wall having said passenger compartment internal air suction openingfaces a front window shield.
 4. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening is disposed at a forward side of said meter cluster withrespect to a forward driving direction of the vehicle.
 5. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the passengercompartment internal air suction opening is partly defined by an upperpart of an instrument panel and an upper part of said meter cluster, andwherein said upper part of said meter cluster overlaps said upper partof the instrument panel at least in a longitudinal direction of thevehicle, so that the passenger compartment internal air suction openingis not visible as a reflection in the front window shield.
 6. Avehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theconditioned air blowout opening is provided below the passengercompartment internal air suction opening.
 7. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passengercompartment internal air suction opening is disposed so as to open in atleast one inner face of said meter cluster.
 8. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said inner faceis an upper inner face in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
 9. Avehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 7, wherein saidinner face is an inner side face in the width direction of the vehicle.10. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe passenger compartment internal air suction opening is disposed in anarea, the view of which area from an eye point of the driver viareflection on a front window shield is blocked by rearview mirror.
 11. Avehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein acover is mounted on a lower face of an instrument panel.
 12. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the passengercompartment internal air suction opening and a blower internal airsuction opening are connected and an intake passage is shielded airpresent in an instrument panel from entering the intake passage.
 13. Avehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thepassenger compartment internal air suction opening is arranged in asubstantially central portion of an instrument panel with respect to awidth direction of the vehicle.
 14. A vehicular air-conditioningapparatus that is applied to a vehicle in which an engine room and apassenger compartment are separated by a dash panel, comprising: aconditioned air blowout opening that is opened at a side of thepassenger compartment; and a passenger compartment internal air suctionopening that is opened at a side of the passenger compartment, whereinthe passenger compartment internal air suction opening is provided in anupper portion of an instrument panel, and wherein the passengercompartment internal air suction opening is formed of a partially openside wall of a meter cluster.
 15. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening opens towards a front window shield.
 16. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the side wallhaving said passenger compartment internal air suction opening faces afront window shield.
 17. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening is disposed at a forward side of said meter cluster withrespect to a forward driving direction of the vehicle.
 18. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the passengercompartment internal air suction opening is partly defined by an upperpart of an instrument panel and an upper part of said meter cluster, andwherein said upper part of said meter cluster overlaps said upper partof the instrument panel at least in a longitudinal direction of thevehicle, so that the passenger compartment internal air suction openingis not visible as a reflection in the front window shield.
 19. Avehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein theconditioned air blowout opening is provided below the passengercompartment internal air suction opening.
 20. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the passengercompartment internal air suction opening is disposed so as to open in atleast one inner face of said meter cluster.
 21. A vehicularair-conditioning apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in thatsaid inner face is an upper inner face in the vertical direction of thevehicle.
 22. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus according to claim20, characterized in that said inner face is an inner side face in thewidth direction of the vehicle.
 23. A vehicular air-conditioningapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening is disposed in an area, the view of whicharea from an eye point of the driver via reflection on a front windowshield is blocked by rearview mirror.
 24. A vehicular air-conditioningapparatus according to claim 14, wherein a cover is mounted on a lowerface of an instrument panel.
 25. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the passenger compartment internal airsuction opening and a blower internal air suction opening are connectedand an intake passage is shielded air present in an instrument panelfrom entering the intake passage.
 26. A vehicular air-conditioningapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the passenger compartmentinternal air suction opening is arranged in a substantially centralportion of an instrument panel with respect to a width direction of thevehicle.
 27. A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus that is applied to avehicle in which an engine room and a passenger compartment areseparated by a dash panel, comprising: a conditioned air blowout openingthat is opened at the side of the passenger compartment; and a passengercompartment internal air suction opening that is opened at the side ofthe passenger compartment, wherein the passenger compartment internalair suction opening is provided in an upper portion of an instrumentpanel, wherein the passenger compartment internal air suction opening isformed by a plurality of suction holes provided in an upper surface ofan instrument panel, and wherein the suction holes are inclined awayfrom a defroster opening arranged between said suction holes and a frontwindow shield.